Method for producing fine solid builder particle

Abstract

The method for producing a fine solid builder particle includes the steps of suspending a solid builder in a dispersion medium containing 20 to 100% by weight of a surfactant, and carrying out wet grinding of the solid builder. The builder composition containing the fine solid builder particle is obtainable by the above method. The detergent composition containing the fine solid builder particle is obtainable by the method. The method for producing a detergent composition includes the steps of carrying out wet grinding of a solid builder using a dispersion medium containing a surfactant to give a mixture of a fine solid builder particle and the surfactant, and further adding the mixture to a composition for a detergent.

We claim: 
     
       1. A method for producing a fine solid builder particle comprising the steps of suspending a solid builder in a dispersion medium containing 20 to 100% by weight of a surfactant, and carrying out wet grinding of the solid builder. 
     
     
       2. The method for producing a fine solid builder particle according claim 1, wherein 50 to 100% by weight of the surfactant is a nonionic surfactant. 
     
     
       3. The method for producing a fine solid builder particle according to claim 2, wherein the nonionic surfactant is one or more compounds represented by the following general formula:   R--(OCH.sub.2 CH.sub.2).sub.n OH,     wherein R stands for a saturated or unsaturated, linear or branched hydrocarbon group, each having 6 to 22 carbon atoms, or an alkylphenyl group having an alkyl chain with 6 to 22 carbon atoms; and n stands for a number of 1 to 30.   
     
     
       4. The method for producing a fine solid builder particle according to claim 1, wherein said dispersion medium consists essentially of one or more surfactants and one or more organic solvents, said organic solvents being selected from the group consisting of lower alcohols having 1 to 4 carbon atoms; ethylene oxide and/or propylene oxide adducts of said lower alcohols; ethylene oxide and/or propylene oxide adducts of phenol; ketones; toluene; and ethers. 
     
     
       5. The method for producing a fine solid builder particle according to claim 1, wherein the dispersion medium contains substantially no water. 
     
     
       6. The method for producing a fine solid builder particle according to claim 1, wherein the solid builder contains, as a main component thereof, one or more crystalline silicate compounds represented by the following general formula:   (Na.sub.n K.sub.m H.sub.L O) (Ca.sub.i Mg.sub.k O).sub.x (SiO.sub.2).sub.y,     wherein n, m, and L each stands for a number of from 0 to 2, with the proviso that n+m+L equals 2; i and k each stands for a number of from 0 to 1, with the proviso that i+k equals 1; x stands for a number of from 0 to 1; and y stands for a number of from 0.9 to 3.5.   
     
     
       7. The method for producing a fine solid builder particle according to claim 6 wherein the grinding step of the solid builder is carried out until one of the following conditions is satisfied: (1) the content of particles having a particle size of 3 μm or less is 50% or more in a volume fraction, or   (2) a specific surface area, calculated from a particle size distribution based on the volume fraction, is 20,000 cm 2  /cm 3  or more.   
     
     
       8. A builder composition comprising the fine solid builder particle obtained by the method according to claim 6. 
     
     
       9. A detergent composition comprising the fine solid builder particle obtained by the method according to claim 6, and one or more surfactants selected from the group consisting of anionic surfactants, nonionic surfactants, cationic surfactants and amphoteric surfactants. 
     
     
       10. The method for producing a fine solid builder particle according to claim 1, wherein the solid builder contains, as a main component thereof, one or more aluminosilicate compounds represented by the following general formula:   (Na.sub.p K.sub.q H.sub.r O).sub.u (Ca.sub.s Mg.sub.t O).sub.v (Al.sub.2 O.sub.3).sub.w (SiO.sub.2),     wherein p, q, and r each stands for a number of from 0 to 2, with the proviso that p+q+r equals 2; s and t each stands for a number of from 0 to 1, with the proviso that s+t equals 1; u stands for a number of from 0 to 1; v stands for a number of from 0 to 1; and w stands for a number of from 0 to 0.6.   
     
     
       11. The method for producing a fine solid builder particle according to claim 10, wherein the grinding step of the solid builder is carried out until one of the following conditions is satisfied: (1) the content of particles having a particle size of 0.5 μm or less is 50% or more in a volume fraction, or   (2) a specific surface area, calculated from a particle size distribution based on the volume fraction, is 120,000 cm 2  /cm 3  or more.   
     
     
       12. A builder composition containing the fine solid builder particle obtained by the method according to claim 10, the fine solid builder particle comprising an aluminosilicate compound having the following properties: (1) the content of particles having a particle size of 0.5 μm or less is 50% or more in a volume fraction, or   (2) a specific surface area, calculated from a particle size distribution based on the volume fraction, is 120,000 cm 2  /cm 3  or more.   
     
     
       13. A detergent composition comprising the fine solid builder particle obtained by the method according to claim 10, the fine solid builder particle comprising an aluminosilicate compound having the following properties: (1) the content of particles having a particle size of 0.5 μm or less is 50% or more in a volume fraction, or   (2) a specific surface area, calculated from a particle size distribution based on the volume fraction, is 120,000 cm 2  /cm 3  or more; and one or more surfactants selected from the group consisting of anionic surfactants, nonionic surfactants, cationic surfactants and amphoteric surfactants.   
     
     
       14. A method for producing a detergent composition comprising the steps of carrying out wet grinding of a solid builder using a dispersion medium containing 20 to 100% by weight of a surfactant to give a mixture of a fine solid builder particle and the surfactant, and further adding the mixture to a composition for a detergent. 
     
     
       15. The method for producing a detergent composition according to claim 14, wherein the surfactant is a nonionic surfactant. 
     
     
       16. The method for producing a detergent composition according to claim 15, wherein the nonionic surfactant is one or more compounds represented by the following general formula:   R--(OCH.sub.2 CH.sub.2).sub.n OH,     wherein R stands for a saturated or unsaturated, linear or branched hydrocarbon group, each having 6 to 22 carbon atoms, or an alkylphenyl group having an alkyl chain with 6 to 22 carbon atoms; and n stands for a number of 1 to 30.